The Fall of Ghana, Mali and Songhai the Great African Empires

Ghana, Maui, Songhay, was regions in Africa that developed into empires in West Africa because of their location and trade. Ghana's internal and external problem contributed to their downfall. Ghana was the first trading empire in West Africa, which covered Mauritania to Senegal. The Ghana Empire became rich by trading in salt and gold. The Berbers around A.D. 300 first established Ghana.

(Littell, 2006)

In 780 A.D. the Soninke, a group of West Africans living in the region by the Sahara, a desert across of North Africa, took control of Ghana and became a wealthy trading empire under their rule. Ghana located between the Northern Saharan salt and gold mines of Wangara, which was important to the wealth, and power Ghana received.

The Kings of Ghana taxed traders traveling through Ghana to the salt and gold mines. A vital product to the people of southern Ghana was salt, while gold had a finite value. Therefore, the empire became wealthy from the taxes collected on the goods. Mixed economy of Ghana Empire also consisted of extensive agriculture, carpentry, pottery, iron smelting, gold smelting, and cloth manufacturing. The primary goods traded salt for a pound of gold in equal amounts, copper, and slaves. The Soninke Kings conquered village chiefs and required a yearly tribute from each tribe. The population of Ghana was more than 15,000 people living in Koumbi Saleh, the capital city.

(Houghton Miifflin Company, 1997)

Ghana's downfall was due to the empire lost of trading monopoly, and drought conditions severely affected the economy. In A.D. 1075, the Almoravids declared jihad on Ghana and conquered the kingdom. In 1076 A.D., Almoravids captured Koumbi, however, the Almoravids hold on the territory did not last long. Sonike regained control from the Almoravids but faced internal problems due to states within the empire converting to Islam. Although, Sonike provided support to the Almoravids some states broke away from the kingdom. In A.D. 1203, king Sumanguru overthrew the Soninke King and captured Koumbi Saleh. Sundiata, king of Mali, was gaining power and in 1235, Mali's King, defeated King Sumanguru at the Battle of Kirina.

(Benjamin and Finkelstine, 1969)

Mali Empire rose from the former Ghana Empire and became the second Sahelian kingdom in West Africa. The attack of 1076 A.D. on Ghana by the Almoravids, a group of Muslim warriors who lived in the Sahara, a desert across North Africa weakened Sumangura, Ghana's king. As a result, King Sundiata, Mali's king defeated Sumangura in the battle of Kirina in 1235. After this battle, Mali then became the next trading empire. King Sundiata completed tasks to build Mali into a huge and profitable empire.

(Littell, 2006)

First, Mali became a productive farming region